What is it about that phrase “let me tell you a story” that just pulls me in, opens my mind up to experience something I might never have heard before, and gets my brain anxious about the reaction I might have? Will I find it humorous? Exciting? Dull? Silly? Honestly my brain just gets giddy when people use that phrase.
“Let me tell you a story”… was exactly how Nick Bowditch and Andrew Griffiths opened their ‘Art Of Storytelling Workshop’. This was a touring seminar ran by Nick & Andrew, whose individual backgrounds facilitate businesses to become better at communicating, better at reaching audiences and better at telling stories. It was a fantastic workshop, and whilst the series has concluded, you should definitely follow both Andrew (@AGauthor) and Nick (@NickBowditch) for insight and learning about storytelling for businesses and entrepreneurs.
For over 35,000 years (the date of the oldest cave paintings found so far), stories have been synonymous with most aspects of our social skills. Gone on some travels recently? I have no doubt that most of your friends, family and colleagues asked you to tell them about the holiday upon your return. Found yourself at the pub on a Friday night after work with some mates and NOT brought them up to speed on the recent gossip in your office? Then that would have made for a pretty lacklustre catch up.
I think we love storytelling for two main reasons. Firstly, our brains just love learning new things, whether it’s a business case study or new cake recipe, which is why I think we’ve been telling stories in one various form or another since we evolved the ability to do so. Secondly, we also like to resonate and connect with the characters within that story. How many times have you imagined that you were Han Solo saving Princess Leia? Go on, admit it…
Now essentially the Art Of Storytelling workshop reinforced some aspects of storytelling that I felt I knew (I am lucky enough to tell stories using video as a living), but the most important thing I learned was that storytelling can be used in ANY aspect of a business. Videos, website, business cards, annual reports, public speaking and presentations… the list goes on. Why simply state the products & services that your business offers, when you can tell a story with them? Why spout the various qualifications you have, when you can take us on a journey of how you got them?
As most people do after an event, I left the workshop thinking I’d implement everything I’d learned, and a few months later realised that I had changed very little in the way I created content. That was until last week when I read through perhaps the best ‘About Me’ section I’d ever read on a website:
I was always the little girl that played dress ups, that had a pink Barbie car and dreamt about Prince Charming. That was until I entered double digits… there is something that happens when a little girl grows up – something nobody warns you about. You start to dream less, start to believe that you can only do what others say you can. I lived the first part of my adult life this way – which landed me in an education degree (3 times), in love with the wrong men and saw me locking away my creativity in a box… which slowly started to steal all my joy. That was until I shook my life up…
In 2010, I packed all my possessions into my little car and relocated to Newcastle. I felt drawn to Newcastle and wasn’t sure why (it did have lovely beaches)… within a week of settling in, I had met a handsome English guy (who, yes, did have a lovely accent!) and made me laugh. and laugh. and laugh. I didn’t know it then but he was not only the love of my life, he was also going to become my best friend and introduce me to my very first camera. I was starting to dream big again…
With little experience, no formal training but a lot of heart, I set out to become a wedding photographer… and that is precisely what I did. Since the inception of my business, which is now in it’s 4th year, I have photographed countless weddings, travelled the world to document love, made memories to last a lifetime and fearlessly chased my dreams. For the first time since I was a little girl, I am dreaming without boundaries, I am letting my imagination steer the direction of my life and I am SO proud of what I am creating. What Nick and I are creating together.
Today I’m an international wedding photographer, living in Brisbane (Australia) with my partner, Nick. Together we photograph weddings and ensure that your first day as husband and wife is documented perfectly, so you can look back at it for the rest of your life.
Now in the interest of full disclosure, I am the Nick in the story. My partner Kylie, a wedding photographer, had re-jigged her website and included the above as a way for people who had never met her start to get familiar with her. How’d she do? Since I would of course be biased that this was a great story, I sent it to a number of peers and colleagues, and the messages of appreciation and admiration have been coming in constantly!
So how can you tell a story that will resonate with people? Most stories, like the one above, are simple. This is a story with a beginning, middle and end.
Beginning
Kylie grew up a creative, imaginative child
Middle
She went about doing what she thought was right and left the creativity behind, studying education, towing the line, but then met an extremely handsome and hilarious fellow (I may be paraphrasing slightly here). She decided to follow her passions, and picked up a camera.
End
She is so much more fulfilled as a wedding photographer. You may even be thinking that you would be fortunate to have someone this passionate and in love with weddings to photograph your own wedding (if applicable).
Those are really the main events within the story. I hope you can see how you might begin to tell your own story in this way. Before you say “but I’m not a creative person”, or “I only process documents at a bank”, if you don’t consider telling your story, then you’re actually considering missing the opportunity to tell people all about what you do and who you are, regardless of what you do in your business. Don’t focus on telling your story perfectly the first time either. Practice makes perfect.
If you’re also not sure of ‘when exactly you should tell a story’, then here are a few examples to get you started:
- Your LinkedIn Summary & Experience section. Such a good way to make your profile stand out.
- A presentation. Next time you speak in front of a group, no matter how big or small, don’t jump straight into your powerpoint slides, inject some storytelling first (and preferably during).
- When you want to illustrate the difference between a good way to do things, and a bad way to do things. Make up a character which by the end of the story, people want to follow suit.
Before I sign off, one of the most important things to remember is that you shouldn’t be afraid to put yourself into the story, even though not everyone will resonate with mine, Kylie’s, or even your own story. Some will have never experienced the same types of events in your life, or will not share similar interests as you, and that’s completely fine!
Because of our proclivity for storytelling however, you are giving people the best chance to join you on whatever journey you wish to take them on. I bet that you’ll find far more people than you expect will connect with your story and be moved to act accordingly. – Nick